Reliance, Aditya Birla, Future Group, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Apply For Payments Bank Permits

The RBI deadline for applying for the payments banks ended on 2 February 2015. Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd., Future Group, UAE Exchange India, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, IIFL, PayTM and Oxigen are the prominent bidders for the payments banks which will offer services such as remittances and deposits. Payments banks will be allowed to not only accept cash, but also pay it out, boosting their appeal for low-income savers. They will, however, not be allowed to provide loans but they can partner other banks as their agents to provide loans. Reliance Industries  joined hands with state-run behemoth SBI, while Bharti Airtel has partnered Kotak Mahindra Bank for seeking payments bank licences.

Union Govt. has decided to rename the second phase of JNNURM

Modi government has decided to rename the second phase of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The new name of scheme is Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). JNNURM was a massive city-modernisation scheme launched by the Government of India under Ministry of Urban Development. It was launched on 3 December 2005 to improve the quality of life and infrastructure in the cities. AMRUT will be a 10-year programme with total investment of about Rs 2 lakh crore.

Angelina Jolie Named Most Admired Woman in the World

Actor-director Angelina Jolie has been named the most admired woman in the world, leaving behind Malala Yousafzai, Hillary Clinton, Queen Elizabeth II, Michelle Obama and Sonia Gandhi. According to a new poll of 25,000 people, Jolie was most worthy of respect internationally, reports British website dailymail.co.uk.

Nicol David sets world No.1 squash record 

World Squash champion Nicol David has set a new record for topping the world rankings for the 106th month. The 31-year old Malaysian, who first headed the Women’s Squash Association list in January 2006, overtook the 105th month record set in February 1993 by Susan Devoy, the four time world champion from New Zealand. David’s achievement is the latest milestone in a glittering career which has included a record eight World Championship titles, two Commonwealth Games gold medals and four Asian Games gold medals.

Maharashtra netball player Mayuresh Pawar dies in 35th National Games

19-year old Mayuresh Pawar took part in Maharashtra’s match against Chandigarh at the Agriculture College Indoor Stadium earlier on the same day. He complained of chest pain after the game and was given first aid. However, the condition worsened and Mayuresh was soon taken to a nearby hospital but could not be revived.